Intimating jungle

A bit more progress on the Indonesian cockfighter and his gamecock. There's not much going on in the photograph's background area by way of color...So I'm just adding the colors I believe to be appropriate. I'm still using thin washes to establish the proportions and placement of detail. It's nice to have the freedom to recreate the coloring of the scene from my memory and intuitive process. So it's getting brightened up quite a bit.
         Mahalo for stopping by.  Aloha, Timo

Coming along...

I've been busy with other things lately, but have managed to put in a few hours at the easle on the Indonesian cockfighter. I'm still drawing with thin paint to get the proportions correct. My canvas is a slightly different shape of rectangle than the reference photo...So the composition is tighter to the sides.
 The colors will change considerably as I progress.
   Mahalo for stopping in.
    Aloha a Mele Kalikimaka Aikane a Ohana.
      Timo

Cockfighter start

I started the painting of the Indonesian cockfighter yesterday and was able to get this much done so far. Toned the canvas with Raw Sienna mixed with Burnt Sienna and then sketched it in with a small long-handled flat bristle brush in Burnt Sienna And a bit of Burnt Umber...Scrubbed out the light area of the hibiscus with a touch of the medium o the same brush then dabbed it with a rag to remove some pigment. I'm still moving things around a bit at this point to try to get it all in proportion.
Mahalo for checking in today.
   Aloha, Timo

The Reference

              This old photograph of an Indonesian cockfighter will be the reference for the painting that will start today on the new canvas that just needs it's final sanding to be ready to paint on.
               Mahalo & Aloha Ohana,
                                 Timo

Process..

     After the canvas is stretched it gets stapled to the backside of the stretcherframe. Then it gets brushed free of lint, etc. and given 3 coats of acrylic gessoe, sanded after each coat to give it a smoother surface for doing detail.

Stretching a canvas

I've been building a new canvas in preparation for a painting that I'm going to be doing for an old friend of mine. These are the tools I use for the stretching part after the stretcher frame has been constructed and the edges sanded. A pair of regular wide-mouth pliers, an awl to start holes in hard wood, a tackhammer, 1/2" carpet tacks and a staplegun (not shown) to keep the canvas in position while it's being stretched on the stretcherframe which in this instance is a 12" x 20" made in house.
   I'll use it in a vertical position for the piece that I'm doing of an Indonesian man holding his gamecock.
   Mahalo for stopping by.
   Aloha, Timo

"London's Vineyard" finish

Here's the finished commissioned painting that I call "London's Vineyard" ~ 16" x 32" oil on canvas 2012.

Subconscious Release

Another start on a non-objective piece utillizing yellow & blue over another old abstract that I didn't want to keep. Then I added some reds...It's hard not to ..The older painting had a lot of warm colors like orange in it. I touched this one some more after this photo was taken of it. I'll update soon.
      Mahalo & Aloha,
              Timo

Yellow & Blue

So anyway...Back again to the inner visual painting that I began about a week or so ago. I worked in both yellow and blue to alter shapes and brighten areas that were too dark.. (Scroll down to the post before last to see how it started.) Again...the interaction of fairly simple positive and negative shapes causes our brains to quickly familiarize and associatively recognise animals, faces, etc. in the totally non-objective abstraction of just two colors. Yellow & Blue

London's Vineyard

Sorry it's been awhile since I updated on the current painting project, this misty vineyard in it's full spectrum of Autumn elegance. It has progressed toward completion, but still has more details waiting to be attended to.
                Mahalo for checking in.
                                                     Timo

Inner visual

I began another inner visual remembrance painting a few days ago...This is the photo of how it was for awhile before I started trying to alter it to fit the movie of the inspiring events that go off in my head when I concentrate on that experience. Yellow and Blue liquids...Intensely illuminated from within...wrestling together, but not combining...   How to catch a moment of that in 2 dimentions...That is the question and the problem....It is fun to try though.

Mind Site

My vision of where this first try at depicting this inner visual expereience would go was transmuted by the painting process into this piece that I'm not entirely pleased with, but which is somehow revealing in a more symbolic stylistic manner that to me evokes thoughts of representational forms...which is something that is difficult to stay away from granted our great asssociative human thought processes. Watching cloud shapes for instance...
        This is why it will take way more than one or two trys to really get to what I want to capture in a painting of that radiation experience. Luckily I have lots of canvases at the moment. 
       Mahalo for your attention,
       Timo
  

Mind Sight

        I've begun a new series of abstract oil paintings loosely based on the interior color display in my mind's visual center as I was being exposed to the radiation treatment during my bout with cancer almost two years ago.
       This first one was started over an old painting of a pear that was given to me recently with a stack of canvases that were salvaged from an abandoned storage space by my friend that manages that facility.
       Yellow is one of the colors that predominated these experiences. So I used that first to keep it rich and pure before I began the other dominant color which is blue.
       The shapes aren't meant to represent anything in particular...just letting my rememberance guide my brush. The show going on in my head during the radiation exposure period was like two liquids interacting in a kind of brilliantly lit dance together, without mixing together as pigments would, but constantly moving in and out of each other as liquid light. Like a Lava Lamp. 

Autumn color

Autumn vineyards here in Sonoma County California take on a wonderful spectrum of vibrant hues starting in the lower areas around the middle of October and spreading to the higher elevations as the temperature drops there. Until the all the vines are saturated with color and the show is just spectacular in some vineyards...Making for many opportunities to find good inspiration for paintings or photos. If you haven't seen this firsthand then you really ought to make a visit here during this season to come out here and witness the display.
    Aloha a hui hou!
          Timo

Coming Alive

As I add more and more daubs of pigments to the canvas the picture begins to awaken and take on more of a life of it's own. Each touch with the brush adds to the illusion of seeing the morning vineyard through this small window of painted canvas.
    Mahalo for stopping in.....
    Aloha Ohana,
         Timo

Warming Trend

Some more color...Deep Cadmium Yellows and oranges...Warming it up. Stay tuned for some reds coming up next!!! 
     For those of you who are interested in keeping tabs on my work, please become "followers" of this blog and you'll be advised when I post (I think...)something new.  Please comment too! 
Mahalo Ohana.
     Aloha,
       Timo

Illusion

As I add more colors to the vines they gain in the appearance of having volume. Painting in a realistic style is basicly about creating the illusion of three dimentions on a two dimentional surface. Attention to color is very important in achieving the sense of reality in the picture that brings it up to a place where your mind will fill in all blanks.
   Mahalo for stopping in.

     Aloha,
       Timo

Perspective in shapes

Continuing the shadow colors into the areas between the vines really defines the essense of the visual flow in this fairly simple composition. The shapes precede the colors of the grapevines so the perspective will be accurately rendered.
  Stay in touch...
   Mahalo & Aloha,
    Timo

Underpainting for added brightness

I underpainted the area occupied by the grapevines with a Naples Yellow Light to brighten the colors that will follow and then started defining the negative spaces between the rows of vines with a shadow inducing combination of Alizerine Crimson & Ultramarine Blue loosely blended together roughly half & half.
Lots still to do so come back soon and see how far it's come along.

    Mahalo & Aloha.
       Timo

More to come

A little more on the new Vineyard painting that I started a few days back...Visual information gathering momentum...The hillside beyond that at first appears to be the sky...A closer wooded hill almost totally obscured by the heavy morning mists...a wall and more trees emerging closer still on the left...
     There is way more to come...!!!

           Mahalo & Aloha,
                    Timo

London's painting

Another painting session has brought London's Autumn Vineyard to this juncture. Much more to come on this piece...Stay tuned for all the changes that will bring this painting to the finish line!
      Mahalo for stopping by,
            Timo

Starting Anew

I started a new painting on a 16" x 32" canvas of my own construction of an Autumn vineyard scene with the morning mist still hanging in the ravines from a photo that my friend London took. Much more to follow this posting...
   Mahalo for seeing what's up.
    Aloha, Timo

Kalalau Overlook

I painted this manufactured 18" x 24"canvas panel from a photo that my friend Rick had taken sometime before we arrived, of the gorgeous view looking down through the Kalalau Valley to the Pacific Ocean. I did it in a direct ala prima plein air style even though my reference was a photoprint. I did this painting in about 5 hours.

Plein air at Kokee

Doing a plein air portrait of my friend Rick's cabin at Kokee, Kauai. and the results.

Sonoma Mountain House

This medium sized canvas (16" x 24") that I built myself was the support for an oil portrait of my friend Jeff's little (850 sq.ft.) stone French farmhouse on Sonoma Mountain near Glen Ellen, California. The first of three elevations he's having me do for him. The detail in this kind of architectural portrait requires many hours of painting to accomplish. I always work to satisfy myself as well as the client in every detail of a finished work.
   Mahalo for checking in.
   Aloha, Timo

" Insistant Surf "

       I know... I haven't made a blog entry for well over a month, but I'll try to catch up a bit on at least the ART part of my life since my last blog-in.  Beginning with this commissioned seascape that I just finished about a week ago. It was a lager version of an old painting that was done in the '90s when I was living in Jenner. The original work only had one shorebird, but the client wanted me to add three more because they have four children. We also changed the colorscheme slightly for this larger (28" x 40") piece using a photo of another painting that was already hanging in the room where it was to be hung for reference. We are all very satisfied with the new version.
      Mahalo for stopping in today.
      Aloha, Timo

Bumper finished (finally!)

I thought the large (24" x 36") oil portrait of the Golden Retriever "Bumper" was finished, but I had to go back in with the direction of the dog's owner to effect a few changes. So...anyway after another 3 hour session with him and the painting...It's finally done to his satisfaction (and mine).
     Mahalo & Aloha, Timo

Coming along...

Bumper's portrait is still on the easle...slowly coming to life as I add more strokes of paint.

Working on Bumper

    I've been working on a portrait of my friend's Golden Retriever "Bumper" for about a week now. I'm making good progress. This canvas is one I built myself and I gave it 3 coats of thick gesso with a brush...Sanded between each coat so I have a good surface to put paint on. Details are easier to obtain when there isn't very much extra "Tooth"on the canvas. I really enjoy watching one of these large (almost lifesize) portraits come to life as I add the details. Canvas size is: 24" x 36". Medium is oils.
    I just got the photo that will be used as reference to do the areas around him (background) to bring him outside into the fresh air. The photo that I'm using to paint Bumper, taken indoors, was supplied by his owner.
    I'm bringing this painting up in layers of colors...Letting all the previous strokes & hues show through. It's a very time consuming process, but the end results are well worth the effort.
    Mahalo for checking in.
    Aloha Ohana, Timo

"Late Afternoon Light"

    I brought a small prelimenary oil sketch back to my studio from the gallery in Napa a couple of months ago and wasn't sure what to paint over it to try and use the small panoramic shape to good advantage.
    I ended up choosing this late afternoon view of an old cattle ranch that's out on the Sonoma coast just east of Highway #1 about halfway between Jenner and Bodega Bay.
                                It's titled: "Late Afternoon Light" - oil on canvas - 8" x 20" - 2012.

Woodenhead Winery Show

                 The show of my art at Woodenhead Winery tasting room - 5700 River Road, Forestville, California is still hanging on the walls there currently... Here's a photo of the Owner (Zina) with the large painting she bought from me that's titled "Pink Champagne Afternoon" 48" x 36" oil on canvas 2006. Go check out the show if you're in the neighborhood.

Still more on Sonoma Creek...

I'm getting very close to the finish of Sonoma Creek at this stage.

More on Sonoma Creek

I'm still working on this painting of Sonoma Creek...I just took a little time off for the Holiday. So here's the current state of progress on it. It's slowly coming into focus here and there. Quite a lot more painting will be required before I can call this one done.
       Mahalo for checking in...
       Aloha Ohana,
             Timo

Patience & Persistance

       A lot of my painting experience is about patience and persistance. As I apply more and more strokes and daubs of these pigments that I mix with a mixture of various oils and solvent, I have a vision , not just of the final image I believe will result from all these actions but of the process that will inevitably bring me there if I am patient and persistant in my work.
       Many more hours of painting lie ahead to bring this somewhat complex composition of Sonoma Creek into focus.
      Mahalo for stopping by.
      Aloha, Timo

More time & paint...

Another three hour session of painting has brought us to this juncture. I really enjoy watching a picture like this one as it progresses. It begins to take on a life of it's own as the pigments and strokes accumulate. I'm using a full sheet (8 1/2" x 11") paper print of the photo I took a few weeks back on a walk along Warm Springs Road near Kenwood, California as my reference.
   Mahalo for checking in...  Live in Joy Today!
   Aloha, Timo

Sonoma Creek taking shape.

A few more hours of painting today have advanced the image of Sonoma Creek that I started a couple of days ago. I like where this one is going.
       Mahalo for stopping by...
           Aloha, Timo

More Paint...

Another two hour painting session has brought it to this state. As I fill in the blank spaces with color, the various elements start becoming identifiable. Wood, Rock, Leaf, Water...

Starting Sonoma Creek

         I began doing a new painting yesterday of Sonoma Creek just off Warm Springs Road near Kenwood. This is the results of the first two hour session of painting. The canvas is a 24" x 36" that I built myself.

Finally done! (I think...)

           Well... I finally finished the large canvas I have been working on again for a few weeks now.
                                Title: 'Sonoma Mountain #5' - oil on canvas - 34" x 52" - 2011/2012
                                                                       price - $6,500.

                                                                Mahalo for stopping by...
                                                                        Aloha, Timo                                                        

Back to Sonoma Mountain

           Well ...I should probably have taken a photo sooner as I've been working on this painting (Sonoma Mountain #5) again for a few days now. It started last year and then got shelved while I worked as much as I was able to on some portrait commissions that came in. However, I have listed it as one of my entrees to the Marin County Fair and they must all be delivered this Friday afternoon to the fairgrounds. So I'm burning the midnight oil to try to get it finished in time to be dry enough to take. Akua has the plan. I just need to keep on slingin' paint!
           Mahalo nui loa for visiting my blog. Have a great day!

            Aloha, Timo

More Detail

     I was back to painting on "Waialua Stream #1" today...Subtle changes, but apparent when you get a bit closer to the actual painting. Details mostly and slight changes in hues here and there. I added quite a bit more detail to the Cattle Egret so that it would hold up to a somewhat closer inspection. Maui became slightly larger and more distinct. More glints of reflected lights in the grasses suggesting moisture...Perhaps the recent passing of a gentle "Ua".
     I think I'm going to call it done again and move on to another project that requires my attention.
     Mahalo for your interest.
     Aloha, Timo

Well...I thought it was done.

Aloha Ohana, Added a pair of Nene Geese and a Cattle Egret to Waialua Stream #1 and now I think I'm going to work on the sky and the rainbow some more. Check in later for another update on this painting.
       Mahalo for stopping by my blog.   Aloha, Timo

Finished Portrait of Art

I finished this portrait of my friend Tommy's brother-in-law Art yesterday. It's not a very good photo of it though...I'm not sure why the camera didn't want to focus on it. I tried twice with equally bad results both times. Mahalo for stopping by.
   Aloha, Timo

Coming Along

     Another couple of painting sessions have brought the new portrait to this stage of completion. The backlit vineyard view toward Sonoma Mountain is certainly adding a lot to this painting as it developes.
    Mahalo for stopping by. Aloha Ohana, Timo